Undergraduate Programme Specification
BSc Geography with a Language
Academic Year 2022/23
A programme specification is required for any programme on which a student may be registered. All programmes of the University are subject to the University's Quality Assurance processes. All degrees are awarded by Queen's University Belfast.
| Programme Title | BSc Geography with a Language | Final Award (exit route if applicable for Postgraduate Taught Programmes) |
Bachelor of Science | |||||||||||
| Programme Code | GEO-BSC-LN | UCAS Code | F8RX | HECoS Code |
100329 - Modern languages - 16 100409 - Geography - 84 |
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| ATAS Clearance Required | No | |||||||||||||
| Mode of Study | Full Time | |||||||||||||
| Type of Programme | Single Honours | Length of Programme |
Full Time - 4 Academic Years |
Total Credits for Programme | 480 | |||||||||
| Exit Awards available | No | |||||||||||||
Institute Information
Teaching Institution |
Queen's University Belfast |
School/Department |
Natural and Built Environment |
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Quality Code Higher Education Credit Framework for England |
Level 6 |
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Subject Benchmark Statements The Frameworks for Higher Education Qualifications of UK Degree-Awarding Bodies |
Geography (2014) |
Accreditations (PSRB) |
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No accreditations (PSRB) found. | |
Regulation Information
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Does the Programme have any approved exemptions from the University General Regulations Yes. Stage 2 is weighted at 20% rather than 30% because the year abroad is weighted at 10%. |
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Programme Specific Regulations Students must complete an academic year of studies at a European university taking modules in Geography delivered in the chosen language. |
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Students with protected characteristics N/A |
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Are students subject to Fitness to Practise Regulations (Please see General Regulations) No |
Educational Aims Of Programme
The overall aim of the programme is to offer a high quality, supportive teaching and learning environment that gives students the opportunities to develop intellectual, practical and foreign language skills through an understanding of physical and human environments and through analysing and interpreting geographical data and knowledge. The programme aims to prepare students to move beyond their degree, be that to employment or further study, and to enhance their understanding of Europe. It encourages them to contribute to the wider community by applying their geographical knowledge and understanding and practical experience of different cultures and environments.
Learning Outcomes
Learning Outcomes: Cognitive SkillsOn the completion of this course successful students will be able to: |
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Assess contrasting ideas, explanations and policies |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures, tutorials Methods of Assessment Exams, coursework assessment |
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Communicate geographical material by written, oral and visual means |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures, coursework, supervised research, experiential learning Methods of Assessment Exams, coursework assessment |
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Critically interpret and evaluate data and texts |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Workshops, supervised research, experiential learning Methods of Assessment Coursework assessment, dissertation |
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Abstract and synthesize information |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Coursework Methods of Assessment Coursework assessment |
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Develop a reasoned argument |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures, tutorials Methods of Assessment Exams, coursework assessment |
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Undertake independent study and engage in reflective learning |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Coursework, supervised research, experiential learning Methods of Assessment Coursework assessment including dissertations |
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Perform assigned tasks within a group setting |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Fieldwork, workshops Methods of Assessment Coursework and fieldwork assessments |
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Be better at their chosen language |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures etc, practice, experiential learning Methods of Assessment Various, dependent upon partner university |
Learning Outcomes: Knowledge & UnderstandingOn the completion of this course successful students will be able to: |
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Appreciate the theory and practice of geographical enquiry |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures, tutorials, supervised research Methods of Assessment Exams, coursework assessment |
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Understand and interpret contemporary geography |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures, tutorials Methods of Assessment Exams, coursework assessment |
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Interpret environments and environmental change |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures, fieldwork, experiential learning Methods of Assessment Exams, assessed fieldwork |
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Understand and utilise GIS |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures, coursework, experiential learning Methods of Assessment Exams, coursework assessment |
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Understand landforms, physical processes, landscape representation and interpretation within physical geography |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures, fieldwork, experiential learning Methods of Assessment Exams, assessed fieldwork, coursework assessment |
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Understand major issues and debates in human geography |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures, tutorials Methods of Assessment Exams, coursework assessment |
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Understand socially constructed ways of representing and interpreting the world |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures, tutorials Methods of Assessment Exams, coursework and fieldwork assessment |
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Appreciate the significance of temporal change |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures, tutorials Methods of Assessment Exams, coursework assessment |
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Carry out routine investigations |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Workshops, fieldwork Methods of Assessment Coursework and fieldwork assessment |
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Improve their knowledge & understanding of a foreign country and culture |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures etc including experiential learning Methods of Assessment Various, dependent upon partner university |
Learning Outcomes: Subject SpecificOn the completion of this course successful students will be able to: |
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Geographical methodologies and data collection (through fieldwork, instrumentation, maps, digital data and imagery, textual and archival sources and written records, social surveys, observation, GIS) |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures, workshops, fieldwork Methods of Assessment Exams, assessed fieldwork, coursework assessment |
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Representation of geographical data (maps, GIS, remote sensing, statistics) |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Workshops, supervised research Methods of Assessment Coursework assessment, dissertation |
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Field techniques for data collection |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Fieldwork Methods of Assessment Assessed fieldwork |
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Laboratory skills for data collection and analysis |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Workshops, supervised research Methods of Assessment Coursework assessment, dissertation |
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Ethics and values; integrity and inequalities |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures, tutorials, supervised research Methods of Assessment Supervised research |
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Environments being affected by physical processes and human activity |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures, tutorials Methods of Assessment Exams, assessed fieldwork, coursework assessment |
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Spatial awareness including the significance of scale |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures, tutorials Methods of Assessment Exams, coursework assessment |
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Communication skills: oral, numerate, literate, graphical and visual |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Coursework, fieldwork, experiential learning Methods of Assessment Exams, assessed fieldwork, coursework assessment |
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Problem solving |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Workshops, coursework, supervised research, experiential learning Methods of Assessment Exams, assessed fieldwork, coursework assessment |
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Research design |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Supervised research Methods of Assessment Dissertation |
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French or Spanish language |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures, practice, experiential learning Methods of Assessment Various, dependent upon partner university |
Learning Outcomes: Transferable SkillsOn the completion of this course successful students will be able to: |
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Decision making and decision taking |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Supervised research, fieldwork, experiential learning Methods of Assessment Dissertation, assessed fieldwork |
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Team work and group interaction |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Fieldwork, workshops, tutorials Methods of Assessment Assessed presentations |
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Independent thought and self-reflection |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Essays, fieldwork, supervised research Methods of Assessment Dissertation, field notebooks |
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Time management |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Groupwork, fieldwork, experiential learning Methods of Assessment Exams, assessed fieldwork |
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Planning, designing, executing independent research & study |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Supervised research Methods of Assessment Dissertation |
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Field techniques |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Fieldwork Methods of Assessment Assessed fieldwork |
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Recognising moral and ethical issues |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures, tutorials, supervised research Methods of Assessment Exams, dissertation |
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Presenting and communicating data (graphicacy, numeracy, oral, written work) |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Essays, coursework, tutorials, fieldwork Methods of Assessment Exams, fieldwork, dissertation |
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Collecting geographical information |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Fieldwork, workshops Methods of Assessment Coursework and fieldwork assessment |
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Quantitative and qualitative approaches to analysis |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures, coursework Methods of Assessment Exams, coursework assessment |
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Foreign language skills |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures etc, practice, experiential learning Methods of Assessment Various, dependent upon partner university |
Module Information
Stages and Modules
| Module Title | Module Code | Level/ stage | Credits | Availability |
Duration | Pre-requisite | Assessment |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | S2 | Core | Option | Coursework % | Practical % | Examination % | ||||||
| Human Geography: Society, Economy and Population | GGY1012 | 1 | 20 | -- | YES | 12 weeks | N | YES | -- | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Physical Geography: Earth, Fire and Ice | GGY1007 | 1 | 20 | YES | -- | 12 weeks | N | YES | -- | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| French 1 | FRH1101 | 1 | 40 | YES | YES | 24 weeks | N | YES | -- | 45% | 20% | 35% |
| Physical Geography: Earth, Wind and Water | GGY1009 | 1 | 20 | -- | YES | 12 weeks | N | YES | -- | 50% | 0% | 50% |
| Spanish 1 | SPA1101 | 1 | 40 | YES | YES | 24 weeks | N | YES | -- | 45% | 20% | 35% |
| Human Geography: Society, Power and Culture | GGY1011 | 1 | 20 | YES | -- | 12 weeks | N | YES | -- | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Global Environmental Change | GGY2058 | 2 | 20 | YES | -- | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Geographies of Economic Restructuring and Social Change | GGY2044 | 2 | 20 | YES | -- | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 70% | 30% | 0% |
| Geomorphology | GGY2052 | 2 | 20 | -- | YES | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Urban Landscapes (Netherlands) | GGY2064 | 2 | 20 | -- | YES | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Palaeoenvironmental Techniques | ARP2051 | 2 | 20 | YES | -- | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Geographical Research Skills | GGY2055 | 2 | 20 | -- | YES | 12 weeks | N | YES | -- | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| French 2 | FRH2101 | 2 | 40 | YES | YES | 24 weeks | Y | YES | -- | 45% | 20% | 35% |
| Spanish 2 | SPA2101 | 2 | 40 | YES | YES | 24 weeks | Y | YES | -- | 45% | 20% | 35% |
| Introduction to Environmental Economics | BIO2204 | 2 | 20 | YES | -- | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 30% | 0% | 70% |
| Marine Systems | BIO2108 | 2 | 20 | YES | -- | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 65% | 0% | 35% |
| Cultural and Political Geography | GGY2054 | 2 | 20 | -- | YES | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Remaking Cities: Comparative Research Project | GGY2060 | 2 | 20 | -- | YES | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Landscapes and Geographical Information (GIS) | GGY2002 | 2 | 20 | YES | -- | 12 weeks | N | YES | -- | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Geography and Employability | GGY2059 | 2 | 0 | YES | YES | 12 weeks | N | YES | -- | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Exploring Dynamic Environments (Mallorca) | GGY2061 | 2 | 20 | -- | YES | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 85% | 15% | 0% |
| Contemporary Approaches to Geographical Enquiry | GGY2056 | 2 | 20 | YES | -- | 12 weeks | N | YES | -- | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Eras SGAP Full Year | GAP2999 | 3 | 120 | YES | YES | 24 weeks | N | YES | -- | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Environmental Catastrophes | GGY3095 | 4 | 20 | -- | YES | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Spaces of Urbanisation in Emerging Economies and Sustainable Development | GGY3063 | 4 | 20 | -- | YES | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 40% | 0% | 60% |
| Advanced Geographical Information Systems | GGY3060 | 4 | 20 | YES | -- | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Policies for Environmental Sustainability | BIO3109 | 4 | 20 | YES | -- | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 30% | 20% | 50% |
| Conservation of the Built Environment 3 | EVP3004 | 4 | 20 | -- | YES | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Geographical Independent Research Essay | GGY3083 | 4 | 20 | YES | YES | 12 weeks | Y | -- | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Critical Thinking and the Past | ARP3089 | 4 | 20 | YES | -- | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 50% | 50% | 0% |
| Geography Dissertation | GGY3081 | 4 | 40 | YES | YES | 24 weeks | Y | YES | -- | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Sustaining the Biosphere | GGY3091 | 4 | 20 | -- | YES | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 40% | 0% | 60% |
| Geographies of contested territories | GGY3074 | 4 | 20 | -- | YES | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Society, Death and Disease | ARP3053 | 4 | 20 | -- | YES | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 0% | 70% | 30% |
| Geographies of Outer Space | GGY3075 | 4 | 20 | YES | -- | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 75% | 25% | 0% |
| Volcanoes: environmental and societal impacts | ARP3080 | 4 | 20 | -- | YES | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 0% | 60% | 40% |
| Maps and Mappings | GGY3090 | 4 | 20 | -- | YES | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Ice Cold Environments | GGY3097 | 4 | 20 | YES | -- | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Geography At Work | GGY3065 | 4 | 40 | YES | YES | 24 weeks | Y | YES | -- | 85% | 15% | 0% |
| Geographies of Ethnicity | GGY3088 | 4 | 20 | YES | -- | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Geoforensics | GGY3049 | 4 | 20 | YES | -- | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% |
Notes
Students select either French or Spanish as chosen language within this programme and will take year’s placement studying Geography at a partner institution between Level 2 and Level 3 in either France or Spain respectively
GGY3083: This module is not a standard option but is provided in the Geography (BSc) programme: (i) to accommodate students on Erasmus placements at L3 and (ii) to provide an alternative to the double-weighted Dissertation (GGY3081) or GGY3065 Geography at Work module as advised by supervisor.
The year’s placement at a University in either Spain or France counts for 10% of the degree programme. Students should be required to take a minimum equivalency of 60 QUB credits worth of Geography modules (30 ECTS) in the host language across the academic year. The GPA attained across these modules will count towards 50% of the available marks for the Study Abroad year. The remaining 50% of marks will be determined as follows: 10% Learning journal; and 40% End of placement reflective report. The Learning journal (10%), shall be comprised of 3 reports submitted digitally in October, January and March of the year of residence. The reports should reflect on the student's experience of studying and living in a foreign country, during the extended period of residence abroad. Each report will be of 500 words: the first in English; and the last two in the target language. They will be equally weighted within the marks available. The End-of-placement report (40%) should be submitted before enrolment into Level 3. It will be between 2000 and 3000 words in length and written in the target language. It should demonstrate that the student: has developed an awareness and understanding of the structures and ethos of a Higher Education Institution in a foreign country and is able to draw comparisons with the UK; has gained an enhanced understanding of the culture and society of the foreign country through the experience of living and studying there and is able to be draw comparisons with the UK; and is able to reflect critically on his or her own culture and society.
GGY3065 and GGY3081: One of these modules must be taken but both cannot be taken.
Level 2: Students may take only one optional module out of GGY2061, GGY2062 and GGY2063. These are field-based modules, and as such only one may be taken.
Levels 2 and 3: One other module (20 units) can be taken instead of a geography optional module in one of these years, but not both.
SPA2101 pre-req: SPA1101
FRH2101 pre-req: FRH1101
SPA1101 pre-req: A-Level Spanish
FRH1101 pre-req: A-Level French